Vacuum cleaner for shoes



April 24, 1962 E. KIRALY VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 5, 1961 A ril 24,1962 E. KIRALY 3,030,650

VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES Filed April 5, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 22 M I I5- 57 INVENTOR. v y| .Mml

ERNEST K/QALY ATTORNEY United States Patent VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES Ernest Kiraly, 463 E. 142ml St, Cleveland, Ghio Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 100,416 4- Claims. (Cl. 15-310) This invention relates generally to shoe cleaning apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for removing dirt, dust, mud and the like foreign matter from the bottom of shoes while the shoes are on the feet of the wearer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable shoe cleaning device combining an upstanding shoe sole scraping brush with suction means for collecting and retaining the dirt, dust and mud removed from the shoe when the sole thereof is drawn across the brush.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated having means for vacuum cleaning the uppers as well as the soles of shoes.

A further object is to provide a new and improved shoe cleaning apparatus that is portable, compact, sturdy and capable of economical manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawings wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner for shoes that is the subject of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the machine with portions broken away to show the inner relation of the parts;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the same;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation with a portion of the front wall and brush broken away to show the suction control valve in alternate positions;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan View of the brush element in its unmounted condition;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view of the brush taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 66 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevation of the device.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is seen the vacuum cleaner for shoes that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral It).

The device consists of a sheet metal housing having top 11, sides 12 and 13, front 14, rear 15, and bottom 16 walls, which together define a substantially rectangular enclosure.

A partition wall 18 at the forward end of the housing defines a valve chamber, broadly indicated by reference numeral 29, with an opening therethrough in which a conventional vacuum cleaner motor and fan unit 42 and suction bag 43 are mounted in the area of the housing behind the partition 18.

It will be noted that the top wall 11 terminates at the partition 18 while the front wall 14 stops short of the plane of the top wall. A horizontal brush supporting plate 17, positioned between the partition and front walls 18 and 14, respectively, defines a step having a single elongated slot 36 therethrough.

Reference numeral 31 broadly indicates a brush having a base 31 of a size and shape to seat on the plate 17 in spaced relation with the surrounding walls 18, 14, 13 and 12, to define a continuous trough or gutter 46 therearound. The brush base 31 has two spaced elongated slots 33 and 34 therethrough which are positioned over the single plate slot 36, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 2.

Continuous rows of up-standing bristles 32 surround the slots 33 and 34 on all sides, defining a broad brushice ing surface with two elongated openings therein, through which dirt, mud and dust removed from the sole of a shoe drawn thereacross can fall.

Reference numeral 23 indicates 21 depending throat postioned beneath the plate slot 36 and defining a valve seat at its lower opening 47 for the hereinafter described valve gate 25.

It will be noted that the upper surface of the brush block 31 is inclined, as seen most clearly in FIGURE 6, so that when the brush is mounted over the horizontal plate 17, the mounted brush bristles 32 will present an inclined surface to the shoe sole, which is naturally so tilted when the foot is raised for such purpose.

Reference numeral 21 indicates a valve collar which is mounted through the side wall 13. A flexible hose 38 of the stretch bellows type is attached to the sleeve 21 and has a sleeve 39 at its free end, adapted to fit into a suction nozzle 40, which is of the type commonly used as an attachment with conventional floor or tank type vacuum cleaners. The nozzle 40 illustrated has an elongated mouth surrounded by a row of bristles, which can be used to loosen dirt clinging to the uppers of shoes. When not in use, the hose 38 is folded back upon itself along the side 13 of the housing, as illustrated, and held in place by a spring clip 41. The nozzle 46 is stored on the outside of the housing, as shown, and held in place by a second spring clip 48.

Reference numeral 24 indicates an inclined transverse curved wall located between the walls 18 and 14 and extending from the throat 23 down to the floor of the valve chamber 21 ahead of the hose valve sleeve 21, as seen in FIGURE 4. The purpose of wall 24 is to reduce the volume of the chamber 21? so that less air has to be moved and a stronger suction attained with the expenditure of less energy.

A valve gate 25 is mounted on shaft 26 within the valve chamber 29, and controlled by handle '27 on the outside of the front wall 14. The gate is rectangular in shape so that it can bear against and cover the valve seat outlet 47 of the throat 23, as well as the mouth of the hose sleeve 21. Both sides of the gate are covered with a gasket 28, made of suitable resilient sheet material such as soft rubber, which will provide an air-tight seal.

The gate 25 is normally biased by a spring 29 to its first position, as seen in FIGURE 4, in full outline, wherein it bears against the valve collar 21 to seal off the hose 38. In this position, the throat 23 is open and air is sucked through the brush slots 33 and 34 by the suction fan 42, as explained hereinafter.

The gate 25 can be swung upward by the handle 27 to take an alternate or second position, indicated by reference numeral 25a, wherein the valve seat 47 of the throat 23 is covered, thereby sealing off the throat 23 and opening the hose sleeve 21, whereby the suction fan 42 draws air through the hose 38.

It will be noted that the spring 29 is connected to the gate 25 beyond its pivot point, or shaft 26, so that when the gate is in its vertical position the spring holds it against the valve sleeve 21, and when the gate is horizontal the spring, now indicated as 29a, holds the gate in its raised condition against the throat valve seat 47.

Current to operate the fan motor 42 is delivered through cable 44 and is controlled by a toggle switch 45. Two vents 22 are located on the back wall 15 to permit air from the filter 'bag 43 to escape. The device may be carried from place to place by means of a handle 37.

In operation, the unit 10 is placed on the floor with the gate 25 in its first position, as indicated by the vertical position of the valve handle 27.

The motor-fan 42 is started by flipping the switch 45. The sole of the shoe to be cleaned is drawn across the brush 30in repeated back and forth strokes. This loosens all dirt, dust, caked mud,

' valve compartment 20. The heavier particles, such as stones and pebbles, remain in the valve compartment While the lighter material and dust are sucked through the opening 19 and deposited in the filter bag 43. Any dirt which falls outside of the brush 30 is caught and held by the gutter 46, so that no dirt is deposited on the floor. It will be evident that the stream of air drawn into the machine, not only acts to pickup all loosened dirt but also acts to dry the sole of the shoe across which it travels. if the shoe uppers are dirty, the nozzle brush 40 may be attached to the hose 38 and the valve gate pivoted to its second, or raised position 25a, wherein the throat 23 is sealed oh, and all the suction is directed through the hose nozzle 48. The nozzle is then rubbed across the shoe upper to dislodge and remove any dirt present.

The nozzle 40 may also be used to clean up the floor around the unit, if some dirt should escape the gutter 46, and ffl clear of the machine. I

Since the device is both light and portable, it may be used to clean stair-ways and the like. Since the brush unit is held in place by bolts 35, it may be easily replaced, when worn, by substituting a new brush. The dirt bag 43 may be removed and cleaned by raising the top wall or cover 11 of the housing.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner for shoes, comprising in combination, a sheet material housing adapted to be positioned on the floor; the housing having a partition defining a forward valve chamber and a rear compartment communicating with the valve chamber through an opening in the partition; suction means including a dirt collecting filter bag, mounted in the rear compartment having its air intake at the partition opening, whereby air may be exhausted from the valve chamber; the valve chamber having an opening in the top wall thereof; a brush having up-standing bristles and a perforated back, mounted over said top wall opening with its back thereagainst; a tubular collar mounted through the side wall of the valve chamber in alignment with the top wall opening and with its mouth spaced downwardly therefrom at 90 to the horizontal plane thereof; a flexible hose'connected to the collar, including a suction nozzle at the free end thereof; and a valve gate pivotally mounted in the valve chamber and movable between a first position wherein it bears against and covers the hose collar mouth, and a second position wherein it bears against and covers the chamber top opening; whereby air may be alternately drawn through the perforations of the brush back when the valve gate is in its first position, and through the hose nozzle when the gate is in its second position.

2. A vacuum cleaner for shoes, comprising in combi nation, a sheet material housing adapted to be positioned on the floor; the housing having top, bottom, side, front and rear walls, the housing also having a partition spaced rearwardly of the front wall, defining a forward valve chamber, and a rear compartment communicating with the valve chamber through an opening in the partition; suction means, including a motor driven fan and dirt collecting filter bag, mounted in the rear compartment, having its air intake at the partition opening whereby air may be exhausted from the valve chamber; the top of the valve chamber being sunk below the upper edges of the bounding front, side and partition walls, defining the chamber, to form a depressed platform bounded by an up-standing rim, the platform having an elongated opening centered therein; a brush having u-p-standing bristles and a perforated back mounted on said platform over the opening thereof with its back thereagainst and with the bristles extending above the rim; a tubular collar mounted through the side wall of the valve chamber in alignment with the platform opening and with its mouth spaced downwardly therefrom at to the horizontal plane thereof; a flexible hose connected to the collar, including a suction nozzle at the free end thereof; and a valve gate pivotally mounted in the valve chamber and movable between a first position wherein it bears against and seals-off the hose collar mouth, and a second position wherein it bears against and seals-elf the platform opening, whereby air may be alternately drawn through the perforations of the brush back when the valve gate is in its first position, and through the hose nozzle when the gate is in its second position.

3. A device of the type defined in claim 2 and further characterized by the brush back having two spaced and parallel slots therethrough bounded on all sides by a continuous field of upstanding bristles, whereby dust and dirt dislodged by the bristles will fall into and be sucked through said slots.

4. A device of the type defined in claim 2 and further distinguished by having a coil spring, anchored at one end on the valve chamber side wall above the center of rotation of the valve gate, and anchored at its other end on the gate at a point spaced inwardly of its center of rotation, whereby the gate is biased to its first or second position, once it has been pivoted past the half-Way point toward either of said alternate positions.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,463,153 Conklin Mar. 1, 1949 2,625,703 Devan Jan. 20, 1953 2,672,635 Glauser Mar. 23, 1954 2,933,752 McLennon Apr. 26, 1960 f. "to 

